Sir Frank Williams 1942-2021

Sir Frank Williams, the founder of Williams Formula 1 team, Team Principal from its foundation in 1977 until 2020, during which period the team won 9 Constructors' championships and 7 Drivers' championships, has passed away at the age of 79 on Sunday morning (18/11/21), after a long illness. Condolences goes out to the family and friends of Sir Frank Williams.

Started his Formula 1 career as a team owner in 1969, when the team is know as Frank Williams Racing Cars, when he purchased a Brabham Formula One chassis (Brabham BT26A), which include driver Piers Courage finishing second in the teams second race at Monaco.

Before the start of the 1976 season, Canadian oil millionaire Walter Wolf bought 60% of FWRC and the team became Wolf–Williams Racing. By the season ends, Wolf bought 100% of Wolf–Williams Racing and the team became Walter Wolf Racing. Sir Frank Williams left the team altogether, to set up Williams Grand Prix Engineering with Patrick Head in 1977.

By 1979 the team won their first Grand Prix win at Silverstone with Clay Regazzoni. By the 1980 season, the team won their first Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Alan Jones.

Winning the Constructors' championship in 1981 and came close to winning the Drivers' Championship with Carlos Reutemann. Winning the 1982 Drivers' championship with Keke Rosberg.

In March 1986, Sir Frank Williams faced the most serious challenge of his life. While returning to the airport at Nice, France, after pre-season testing at Paul Ricard, he was involved in a road accident that left him paralysed. He did not return to the pit lane for almost a year. Despite the lack of his track-side presence, the Williams team won the Constructors' Championship and came close to winning the Drivers' Championship with Nigel Mansell.

In 1987, the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Nelson Piquet. In 1992, the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Nigel Mansell.

In 1993, the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Alain Prost. Winning the Constructors' championship in 1994 and came close to winning the Drivers' Championship with Damon Hill despite the death of Ayrton Senna at the start of 1994. In 1996, the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Damon Hill.

In 1997, the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Jacques Villeneuve for the last time at this period of time.

Despite the declining of the team for the last two decades and almost came close winning both titles in 2003, Sir Frank Williams continue as Team Principal and majority owner of the team till 2020 when he sold the team to a US-based investment group Dorilton Capital and leaving the team after the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.

Gone but not forgotten. His legacy will be there forever.

R.I.P. Sir Frank Williams